Things we use to work smarter. You can use them also. They're here because they are the best we've found, and we're pretty darned picky:

 

Keep Your Computer Skills Sharp.

It's critical. We use Lynda.com* to keep our skills sharp. Whether you're a beginner and want basics, or advanced and need to know all the coolest techniques for your software. This is the place. We keep a monthly subscription so it's always there for us and recommend that you do too.

 

Send Email Campaigns with Smarts and Style.

When you send email campaigns, use the best company. For years now that's meant Constant Contact*. The gold standard. This is what they DO, and they do it well. The emails get through, some will always bounce (natch) but you'll know who bounced, who arrived, who got read, where they went when they clicked on your links. Website signup boxes, contact management, email archives, and a really cool easy-to-use interface. We use it all the time and love it.

 

Send large files easily.

Sending files can be iffy, what with everyone's spam filters set to stun. Make sure your file gets to the recipient, use YouSendIt, a free service for sending files up to 100 MB (larger with their paid service). Every time we tell someone about this they say, "OMG! Thank you!! It was so frustrating and now it's soooo easy."

 

Is your website set up and configured to do well in the search engines?

Use the free 7-Day Trial at Hubspot to find out. Great info on your site and how to make it better. Just sign up, you don't have to buy anything and they won't drive you crazy with emails.

 

 

*FTC Disclosure: If you know me at all you know that I don't recommend something unless I think it's absolutely stellar. All of the resources I recommend are my favorite things, and with some I am an "affiliate" which means that I will earn a small commission for referring you to the resources. Those are marked with an asterisk.